Electrical connection means



June 28, '1938.' H. AjDoUGLAs Y ELECTRICAL vGONNECTION MEANS Filed Mays1, 1935 4 am@ l Piumav June 2s, 193s ELECTBICAL- CONNECTION MEANS HarryA. Douglas.. Bronson, Mich., assigner to Kinzston Products of IndianaCorporation, a corporationl Application May s1, 1935, semi No. 24,250

29 claims.' (ci. 17a-328) My invention relates Vto electrical 1connection means, .particularly to connection means which may involve aplurality of conductor terminal receiving 'means mounted on a commonsupport, and, more particularly to aconstruction in which a plurality ofconductor terminal receiving means constituting a plurality lof terminalposts are integrally formed,rand the principal object of my invention isto provide new and improved electrical connection means. In the drawingaccompanying this speciilcation and forminga part of this application Ihave shown, for purposes of illustration, several forms which my inonytheline 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows,l

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line '4-4 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, a conductor terminalbeing added in Figure 4, ."i

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken the' line 6--6 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction ot the arrows.

recticn of the arrows,Y and Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken onReferring vto Figure'l, there is here shown an electrical connectionmeans comprisingA a plurality of conductor terminal receiving means orterminal posts, there being-in this instance eight terminal pos/ts, I0,II, I2, I3,v I4, I5, I9, I1, mounted on a common composite support orbase Il. The construction of the embodiment of Figure 1 will beclearlyunderstood, ilrst, by a consideration ofthe construction of 'two of theterminal posts,

Each terminal post I3, I4 comprises a housing I 9, 20, the housing I9being integral with the housing 20. The housing of each terminal postI3, I4 includes av tubular body portion of generally oblong rectangularvcross-section, as may be seen in Figure 6.- i.

The tubular body portion of theterminal post I3 has opposite walls 2|,22 integrally joined at their tops by a loop 23 forming an aperture 24.The tubular body portion of the terminal post I4 has opposite walls 25,25, integrally joined at their tops by a loop 21 forming an aperture 28.

The adjacent walls 22, 25 of the posts I3, I4 are walls 22, 25 areintegrally joined at their lower ends by a bridge portion 29 extendingat right angles to the walls 22, 25. 1

The tubular body-portion of the post I3 also has opposite walls 30, 3Iat right angles to the walls 2i, 22. The wall 30 is made in halves, onehalf 32 being integral with the wall 2|, and the other half 33 beingintegralwith the wa1l.22. The wall 3l is made in halves, one half 34being integral with the Wall 2|, and the other half 35 being integralwith the wall ,22. In like manner the post I4 also has opposite walls36, 31, at rightangles to the walls 25, 26, and each of these walls 36,31 is made in halves v38, 39 and 4I), 4I, the halves 38,4Ilbeing'integral with the wall 25 and the halves 39, 4I being integralwith the wall 26. The two part walls 30, 3| of the post I3 and the twopart walls 36, 31 of the post I4 may have their upper ends 42, 43 and44, 45

Aof arcuate form, to form the lower margins of the apertures 24, 28 ofthe loops 23, 21.

'I'he posts I3.; I4 are provided with feet, two of which 46, 41 areshown as provided on the post I3, these feet 46, 41, being formed byextensions of the wall halves 32, 34, bent outwardly at right angles tothe wallI halves 32, 34. Two of the feet48, 49, are provided on the postI4, being 4formedby extensions of the wall halves 39, 4I,

bent outwardly at right angles to the wall halves 39, 4I. Two more feet50, 5I may be provided,- these being formed by lateral extensions of thebridge 29, andthe feet 50, 5I are thus common to the posts I3, I4. y

The bottoms of the feet 46, 41 of the post I3, and of the feet 48, 49 ofthe post I4, and of the feet 50, 5I on the bridge 29, and the bottom ofthe bridge 29 itself, are all in a common plane, and adapted to abut aplate 52 here lshown as of insulating material. 'I'he posts I3, I4 maybe held to the plate 52 in a manner which will appear.

The wall 36 of the post I4 is provided with an ovate aperture 53,'formedby recessing the abutting edges of the walls 38, 39; and the wall 31- isprovided with an ovate aperture 54, formed byrecessing the abuttingedges ofthe walls 4 0, 4I,

.the apertures 53, 54 having a common axis.

for cooperation'with the aperture 28 and a conductor terminal insertabletherein. The detent means has a body portion generally of U- shape, thebight 560i the U being, in this instance, arch-shaped. 'I'he U- shapeddetent means 55-has legs 51, 58 with which the arch-shaped bight.56merges. The inner periphery of the bight 56 of the detent means `55 isin general -registry with the upper portion of the apertures 53, 54. Thearch-shaped bight 56 of the detent means 55 is provided at its top withAa protuberance 59, which in this instance is of approximatelysemi-'cylindrical form, struck up from the bight 56, the axis of theprotuberance 59 being at right angles to the axis of the arch 56 and atright angles to the axis oi the aperture 28. The protuberance 58 isvnormally above the arcuate margins 44, 45. The

'upward movement of the detent means 55 is limited by `shoulders 66, 6Lextending inwardly from near the upper ends of the walls 25, 26,somewhat below the junctions of the walls 25, 26 with the ,loop 21. Thedetent means 55 is provided with projections 62, 63 extendingl outwardlyfrom the sides'of the arch 56, the upper ends of these projections 62,P63 beingwadapted to abut the shoulders 66, 6I. The projections 62, 63may be struck out from the arch 56.

Detent means 64, slldably positioned in the tubular body of the post I4,below the detent means 55, is providedl for cooperation with theapertures 53, 54, and with the aperture formed by the detent means 55,and with a conductor' '53, 54, and has its axis at right angles to theaxis of the apertures 53, 54.

The plate 52 serves also as an abutment for a spring 69, disposed withinthe tubular body of the terminal post I4, the other end of the springengaging the inside surface of the bight 65 of the detent means 64,thereby biasing the detent means 64 against the lower ends of the legs51, 58 of the detent means 55 and biasing the detent means 55 againstthe shoulders 60, 6I.

A detent means 16, slldably positioned in the tubular body of the postI3, `is cooperable with the aperture 24 and a conductor terminallnsertable therein. 'I'he detent means 18 is, in this instance,identical with the detent means 66 except that it cooperates with theaperture 24 formed by the loop 23 instead of cooperating with apertures53, 54, as does the detent means 64. .l l

The plate 52 serves also as an abutment for one end of a spring 1I, theother end of the spring engaging the inside surface oi the bight of thedetent means 16. The spring 1| -biases the detent means 16 upwardlyagainst'shoulders 12, 13 extending inwardly at approximately the tops ofthe walls 2I, 22. These shoulders 12, 18

are similar to the shoulders 66, 6I of the post I4, except that they arecloser to the junctions between the walls 2l, 22 and the loop 23 thanare the shoulders 66, 6I to the junction between the walls 25, 26 andtheloop 21. l

In addition to the plate 52' the base I8 includes also an insulatingplate 14 provided with apertures` 15, 16, which desirably snugly fit thebody portions of the terminal posts I8, I4 andthroughwhich theseterminal posts are insertable. .The terminal posts I8, I4nbeing spaced,and hence also the apertures 15, 16, the insulating plate 14, providesan `intermediate portion 11 overlying the bridge 29 and disposed betweenthe walls 22 and 25. The insulating plate 14 also'overlies the feet 46,41, 48, 48, 50, 5I. If desired a. spacer 18 may be provided between theplates 52, 14, of approximately the thickness of the before-mentionedfeet, the spacer being provided with an aperture 19, generally-outliningthe feet of such terminal posts as maybe mounted on the base. The partsof the composite base I8 may be held together bya metallic channel 88,having flanges 8l, in which the plates 52.

x14, and the spacer 18, if used, are disposed, vthe ilanges 8| of thechannel 88 being provided with i'lngers` 82 clinched over the top of.the insulating plate 14, to rmly hold in place the terminal posts I3,I4 or any other similar posts.

Inv Figure -4 is shown a conductor terminal 83 in cooperative relationto the aperture 28 of the terminal post I4. The protuberance 59` of thedetent means 55 is in engagement with an annular furrow 84, formed in acylindrical part of the conductor terminal 83. The conductor terminal isprovided with a frustro-conical end 85, which serves to cam the detentmeans 55 downwardly against the bias ofthe spring 68, as the conductorterminal 83 is being inserted into the aperture 28, further insertingmovement causing the protuberanoe 58 to .snap into the furrow 84. Theconductor terminal 83 may be fastened to the conductor disposed thereinby swedging, as indicated by the swedge indentations 86.

It will be noted that when a conductor terminal 83 is connected to 1 theterminal post I4, through the aperture 28, as shown in Figure 4, theupper inside surface of the bight 56 of the detent means 55 is somewhatbelow the upper margins ofthe apertures 53,` 54, the detent f means 55having been moved downwardly somewhat from its position shown in Figure2, by insertion of the conductor terminal 83. Also, the detent means 55has moved the detent means 64 downwardly a small amount, theprotuberance 68l being however still above the lower margins oftheapertures 53, 54. In this position of the parts the lower ends of thelegs 51, 58 of the detent means 55 are stillI in abutment `with the topof the bight 65 of the detent means 64.

If another conductor terminal such as 83 now is inserted through theapertures 53, 54, the upper portion of the body oi the conductorterminal will slide along the inside surface of the bight 56 of thedetent means 55, and the protuberance 68 will snap into the furrow, suchas 84, of the conductor terminal. Thus the spring 69 biases theprotuberance 68 against the lower conductor terminal 83, in turn biasingthe lower conductor terminal against the underside of the bight of thedetent means 55, thereby biasing the upper conductor terminal 83 againstthe upper inside surface of the aperture 26. In this position of theparts the lower ends of the legs 51. 58 of the detent means 55 are nolonger Yin contact with the upper surface of the bight 65 of the detentmeans 64.

It will be obvious that the conductor terminal 83 may be removed fromthe aperture 28V and inserted in the lower unoccupied terminal receivingapertures 53, 54 and held there by' the a,1a2,oso

`adapted to receive and hold a conductor terminal in either oi itsterminal receiving apertures l 23 and I3. 33, or in both'the aperture 23and th apertures I3, 53, equally well.

The terminal postI I3 is adapted to receive and hold a single conductorterminal 33 in ya manner which will be obvious from the foregoing.

It is evidentthat the terminal posts I3, I3v are adaptedto interconnectconductor terminals up to a maximum of three.

It will be apparent from the described construction of the terminalposts I3, Ilfthat the housings of these posts may be made of a singlepiece of sheet metal'the-walls 'of the post I3 being-'formed ashereinbeiore described and the channel-shaped` halves of the bodyportion being moved toward each other while bending the loop, 23 untilthe longitudinal Aedges'ofv the halves of' the body portion formthe.lines or planes loi.' registry 31, 33, where the wall halves'32, 33and the wall halves, 33 abut each other, In likemanner, the terminalpost I3v may be formed to the shape described by moving thechannelshaped halves of the'body portion toward each other to bend theloop 2Iuntil' the longitudinal edgesof the wail halves 38, 30 and 30, 4Iform the lines or planes of registry 33, 90. The integrally connectedwalls.- 22, 2l are also bent so as to form the bridge portion 29. 'I'hedetent means l5, 03 and the spring 69 may be assembled `with theterminal post I l and the detent means 10 and the spring 'II with theterminal post I3 by simply inserting them in the tubular portionv of theterminal posts to assume the positions t hereinbefore described,whereupon the terminal posts may be assembled with the base I0.

The base I3; also mountsa pair'of posts I0, II, each of the posts beingidentical with the post I3. The posts I0, II are integrally joined by -abridge portion 03, similar to the bridge portion 20 joining the postsI3, I4. Each post I0, II is also provided with a singledetent means,`similar to the detent means l of the post I3, vand operable in the samemanner. The compound post comprising the posts I0, II is alsoprovidedwith feet asl described in connection with the posts I3, Il anda view of the posts I0, II, similar to the view of the posts I3, Il, inFigure 3 appears identical with that view. The compound post I0, II isobviously adapted for interconnecting a maximum of two conductorterminals such as 03.

{Ihe base I3 also y'mounts a compound post .comprising terminal postsI8. I1, each of which is identical with the post I3. The posts I0, I'Iare integrally joined by a bridge portion |00. Each'post I3, I'I isprovided with two detent means. similar to the detent means Si, '6I ofthe post I3 and operable in the same manner. The compound post I3, I'Iis' also provided withfeet as described in connection-with'the compoundpost I3, I4 and a view of the posts I3, Il, similar to the view of theposts I3, I3 in Figure 3 appears identical with that view. 'I'hecompound post I3, II is obviously adapted for interconnecting a maximumot four conductor terminals such as 33.

The base I3 also mounts a post I 2,'adapted to interconnect a maximum oftwo conductor terminals such as 33. 'I'he post I2isidentical with postI3 except that it is not connected by a bridge portion such as20 to anadjacent post and Isfmoreover, provided withfour feet IOI,`I02,

|33, |33, as maybe seen in Figure 3. The feet I3I, |32 are formedbyextensions of wall halves,

by, for example, fastening means corresponding to the wall halves 33,30o! the post I3, bent outwardly at fright angles from the wall halves,and the feet |03, |03 are similarly formed by extensions of wall halves,correspond- Ing to the wall halves 30, 4I of the post Il, bentoutwardlyat right angles from the wallhalves.

'I'he base I 3 also mounts a postii, adapted toreceive a singleconductor termixrial,` .such as 33. The post yI5 is' identicalwiththepost vI3 except that it is notconnected by a .bridge portion,

such as 20, to an adjacentl post and'.fmoreover,. is providedwith fourfeet |05, |06. |01, |03, in a. manner analogous to vthat alreadydescribed in a connection with the-post I2.`

Both the' post 12 and the.l post |5`may have' conductor means `(notshown) otherthan a conductor terminal such as 83, connected thereto.

It wlllbe evident that the housings ofthe posts I2, I and also of thecompound posts I 0, II and I6. II may each be made of a single piece ofsheet metal, anieilogously'as' has been described incon nection withlthe posts I3," I4. Moreover, any

desired' combination as regards the 'number of' v' integrallyconnectedterminal posts and the number of terminal receiving aperturesprovided by the respective terminal posts maybe made up in, a continuousintegral series. On the other hand, connection blocks or .strips may bemade up of variouscombinations of compound posts or single posts orboth.. l n

All of the posts I0 through Il are held in abutment with the plate 52 ofthe-base by the apertured plate 14, as already described in connectionwith the posts I3, I3, apertures in the plate 14,

similar to the .apertures 15, 76, being of coursev also provided for theposts I0, II, I2, I5, I0, I1. Plates such as I4 may be cut in anydesired length from stock, previously provided, if desired, withapertures such as 15,-16 and so on. These apertures may all be of thesame size and shape and equally spaced so that besides being adapted toreceive single terminal posts, any standard compound post, according tothe present disclosure,

may bev received therethrough, l

'Ihe base I8 maybe mounted ona support as passing through apertures I09, IIO in the base.

- From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat the'illustrated embodiments of my invention provide new andimproved electrical connection means, readily and convenientlyconstructed and assembled, and accordingly accomplish at least theprincipal object of my invention.. On the other hand, it also will beobvious to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiments oi'my invention may be rality of undlilations, each undulation forming atleast two spaced walls oi' one of said conductor terminalr receivingmeans, each terminal receiving means having a `predetermined number oi'detent means, and each having resilient means for 'biasing said detentmeans into cooperative 'relation `with conductor terminals, theamplitude of any givenoneof 'said undulations beingde,

predetermined maximum number o! conductorl terminals that said conductorterminal receiving means, of which said given undulation forms a part,is adapted to receive.

3. A plurality of conductor terminalreceiving .means including anundulating element made from sheet metal stock, said element comprisinga plurality of undulations continuous with each other from the crest ofone to the crest of the. adjacent one in the' direction of progressionof said undulations, each undulation forming at least two spacedrelatively; xed walls oi' one o! said conductor terminal receivingmeans, each terminal receiving means having a predetermined number ofconductorv terminal receiving apertures, the amplitude of any given oneof said undulations being dependent upon the number oi' conductorterminal receiving apertures provided in that conductor terminalreceiving means of whichO said given undulation forms a part.

4. A plurality of conductor terminal receiving" means, each having abody portion,4 the longitudinalaxes of, said body portions extendingapproximately .parallel to each other and being disposed in a commongeneral plane, adjacent body` portions each having a side spaced fromand facing a side oi the adjacent body portion, each said side beingdefined by a continuous wall extending transversely across said generalcommon plane,I each of said body,portions providing 4at least oneconductor terminal receiving aperture 'extending transversely of thelongitudinal axis `tending approximately parallel to each other andbeing disposed in a common general plane, adia'` cent body portions eachhaving a side spaced from and facing a side oi the adjacent bodyportion, each said side beingdened by a continuous wall extendingtransversely across said general common plane, each oi said bodyportions providing at least one conductor terminal receiv-l ing apertureextending transversely o! the lonv gitudinal aids o! the respectivebodyportion; and

connecting means for mechanically and electrically integrally connectingsaid sides; said connecting n means and said body portions being formedintegrally from sheet metal stock.

6. In combination: a composite base including superimposed preformedinsulating portions; at

least two conductor terminal receiving means mounted on said base andextending laterally therefrom; said terminal receiving means each tpendent upon the predetermined mammuminumhaving detent means constructedand arranged i'or movement in said lateral direction, and each havingresilient means for i biasingl said detent means into cooperative'relation with conductor terminals receivable in said terminal receivingmeans; each of said resilient meansabutting the same one of saidinsulating portions; and connecting means for mechanically andelectricallyV y integrally connecting said two conductor termi. nalreceiving means; said connecting means be- -ing disppaed between saidinsulating portions of said base.' a n 'L In combination: a compositebase including superimposed preformed insulating portions, one of said`portions having spaced apertures; at least two conductor terminalreceiving means mounted on said base, having body portions disposedthrough said apertures; said terminal receiving means each havingdetent'means constructed and arranged for movement longitudinally o!said body portions,` and each having resilient means for biasing saiddetent means into cooperative relation with conductor terminals re`lceivable in said terminal receiving means, each of said resilient meansabutting the same one oi' said insulating portions; and connecting meansfor mechanically and electrically integrally connesting` said twoVconductor terminal receiving means; said connecting means being disposedbetween said insulating portions of said base;

8. A plurality of conductor terminal j/receiving means including anundulating wall made `from sheet metal stock, said wall comprising a Iiiplurality of undulations, each undulation forming at least two spacedrelatively fixed walls of one of said`conductor terminal receivingmeans, each `terminal receiving means being so constructed and arrangedthat it is adapted to receive a predetermined maximum number ofconductor terminals, each terminal receiving means having apredetermined number of detent means, .and each having resilient meansfor biasing said detent means into cooperative relation withconductorterminals, the amplitude of anygiven one of said undulationsbeing dependent upon the predetermined maximum Inumber of conductorterminals that said conductor terminal receiving "means, of which/saidgiven undulation forms a part, is adapted to receive. r

9. A plurality ot conductor terminal receiving means, each havingiabody-portion, the longitudinal axes of said body .portions defining aplane, adjacent body portions having adjacent walls spaced from eachother laterally, said body j portions providing apertures for receivingconductor terminals, at least one of said body portions providing atleast two said apertures'the axes of said at least two apertures beingspaced from each other in the direction of the longi- .tudinal axis of,said at least one body portion and defining a plane transverse to saidrst named plane; detent means, for `each terminal receiving means,constructed and arranged for cooperation with said apertures andconductor terminals receivable therein; resilient biasing means, foreach terminal receiving means, constructed and arranged tobias saiddetent means into cooperative relation with the conductor terminals; andconnecting means for mechanically and electrically integrally connectingsaid adja- J cent walls; said connecting means and said body ptortlironsbeing i'ormed integrally from sheet` metal s oc 10.'In combination: acomposite base including superimposed preformed insulating portions;

aieaoso v at least two corductorterminal receiving means,

having tubularbody portions, mounted on and extending laterally fromsaid base, at least the base-ends of said 'tubular body portions beingopen; and connecting means for mechanically and electrically integrallyconnecting said two conductor terminal -receiving means; said tubuvlarbody portions and said connecting means being formed from a single sheetmetal stamping;

and said connecting means being disposed between said insulatingportions of said base and one of said portions closing said open ends-of'saidtubular body portions.

.oally and electrically integrally connecting said Atwo conductorterminal.' receiving means at onev end thereof; said tubular bodyportions and said connecting means being formed from a single sheetmetal stamping; said connecting means bein g disposed between saidinsulating portions of said base and one of said portions closing saidopen ends of said tubular body portions; said tubular body portions. andsaid connecting means and said apertures being so constructed andarranged that said tubular portions are freely insertable through saidapertures without distortion of said terminal receiving means.

l2. In combination: a base; a plurality of spaced conductor terminalreceivingl means mounted on said base, at least one`of said receivingmeans lhaving a tubular body portion formed by juxtaposed channelvshaped parts, the free edges of the sides of said channel shaped partsdefining a plane transverse to the direcv tion of spacing of saidterminal receiving means, each receiving means providing at least onecon- 'ductor terminal receiving aperture; said tubular body portionhaving aA bent sheet metal loop at its free end providing one of saidterminal receiving apertures; and connecting means for mechanically andelectrically integrally connecting said plurality of terminal receivingmeans;

said connecting means and said body portions and said loop being formedintegrally from' a single sheet metal stamping.

o 13. A plurality of conductor terminal receivving means including a.common portion made from an elongated sheet metal element, said commonportion comprising a plurality of undula- `1tions, said element being sorconstructed and arranged that each undulation/forms the walls of oneofsaid conductor terminal receiving .means having a tubular body portion,each terminal receiving means having a predetermined nurnbei' of detentmeans, and each having resilient means for biasing said detent meansinto cooperative relation. with conductor terminalsythe amplitude o!any. given one of said undulations being dependent upon thelpredetermined maxi- A terminal receiving means of which said givenunmuni number of detent-means of that conductor dulation forms a part. l

14. A plurality/ of, conductor terminal receiving means including acommon portion made froml an elongated sheet .metal element, said commonportion comprising a plurality ofundulations,

-said element being so constructed and arranged that each undulationforms the relatively ilxed walls of one oi said conductorv terminalreceiving means having a tubular body portion, each terminal receivingmeans being so constructed portion comprising a plurality ofundulations,

said element being so constructed and arranged ,that each undulationforms the relatively fixed walls of one of said conductor terminalreceiving means having a tubular portion, each terminal receiving means.being so constructed and arranged that it is adapted to receive apredetermined maximum number of conductor terminals,

Aeach terminal receiving means having a predetermined number of d etentmeans, and each having resilient means for biasing said detent meansYinto cooperativerelation with conductor terminals, the amplitude of anygiven 'one of said undulations being dependent upon the predeterminedmaximum number of conductor terminals that said.

conductor terminal receiving means, of which said given undulation formsapart, is adapted to receive. l

16. In combination: an insulating base'having an aperture; terminalmeans having an open ended tubular portion extending into said aperture,said terminal means having a transverse aperture for receiving anelectrical conductor terminal; detent means,` disposed `within saidtubular portion, for cooperation with said transverse aperture and theelectrical conductor terminal; resilient means, disposed Within saidtubular portion for biasing said detent means into cooperating position;a plate engaging said resilient means and extending over said open endof said tubular portion; and means for holding said plate against saidbase.

17. An electrical conductor terminal receiving means, comprising: detentmeans, formed of sheet metal, having a body of generally U-shape, thebight of said body having a generally semicylindrical extension havingits axis at right angles to the axis of said bight, said extensionextending in` a direction away from the outer surfacey of said 'bight ofsaid detent means and being constructed and arranged for cooperationwith a conductor terminal extending parallel to the axis of. said bight;means for supportingsaid detent means for movement relatively to saidsupporting means; and resilient means for biasing said detent means insaid direction into cooperating position.

18. An electrical conductor terminal receiving means, comprising: ilrstdetent means, formed of sheet metal, having a. body of generally U-shape, the bight of said body having a generally semi-cylindrical.extension having its axis at right angles to the axis of said bight,said extension of saiddetent means being constructed and arranged Aforcooperation with a conductor terminal; second detent means constructedand arranged for cooperation with a conductor terminal insertable in thebight ofthe body `oi.' said. first detent means; means for supportingsaid nrst l for biasing said nrst and second detent means intocooperating` position with the conductor terminals.Av l I 19. Inkombination: a base having an aperture; an electrical conductor terminalreceiving means having a Vfree end and a supported end and comprising atubular body formed of sheet metal,

said tubular body including two jugltapsed,

channel shaped parts; said aperture and said tubular body beingrelatively so constructed and arranged that said tubular body isinsertable free end first through said aperture; said terminal receivingmeans having a plug conductor terminal receiving aperture extending in adirection transverse to the axis ofsaid tubular body; detent'means,disposedin said tubular body, constructed and arranged lto cooperatewith saidaperture and a plug conductor terminal receivable insaidaperture; resilient means for biasing said detent meanstocooperating position;

` and means for mounting said receiving means on said base includingsheet metal portionsdntegral with said tubularbody, said portions beingpreformed to overlie a portion of said base thereby to limit suchinsertion of said tubular body through said aperture.

20. An electrical conductor terminal receiving means, comprising: loopmeans, bent from sheet shaped parts forming a split tubular body; saidmetal stock, providing an aperture for receiving a conductor terminal;two 4juxtaposed channel tubular body having an aperture for receiving aconductor terminal; said loop means and said channel shaped parts beingformed integrally from a single sheet metal stamping; and moansv forholding a conductor terminal in either orv bot of said apertures.

l 21. An electrical conductor terminal receiving means, comprising: loopmeans, bent from 'sheet metal stock, providing an aperture for receivinga conductor terminal; two juxtaposed channel shaped parts forming atubular body having a split -in its walls; said tubular body having anaperture, intersecting said split, for receiving a conductor terminal;said` loop means and said channel shaped parts being yformed integrally`one of said detents having a generally U-shaped body formed of sheetmetal; and means for mov- `ably supportingsaid detent means; saidsupporting means having an aperture a margin of which registersapproximately with the surface defining the inside of the bight of saidU-shaped sheet metal body thereby to leave said aperture and said .bightfree for the insertion of one of the conductor terminals throughlsaidaperture and within said inside surface; another of said de--4 tentsbeing so constructed and arranged that'it iscooperable with said bightand the conductor terminal inserted therein and that movement oi?v saidlast named detent toward said bight is limited by engagement of saidlast named detent with the ends of thelegs of said U-shaped sheet metalbody; and means biasing said last named detent to said limitingposition.

23. In combination: a base having an aperture;

terminal means having an open ended tubular portionwextending into saidaperture, said vterminal means having a t aperture forre-...

ceiving an electrical conductor terminal; detent 4 means, disposedwithin said tubular portion, for cooperation with said transverseaperture and the .electrical conductor terminal received therein;I

resilient means disposed within said .tubular portion, for biasing s aiddetent means into cooperating position; said tubularportion at its openend having parts preformed so that they extend laterally outwardly andoverlie a portion of said e; said aperture and said terminal means beingrelatively so constructed and arranged that said.

terminal means is insertable through said aperture and that insertingmovement is stopped by said. laterally extending parts; a plate engagingsaid resilient means and extending over said open end of said tubularportion and over said laterally. extending parts; and. means for holdingsaid plate against said' base.

24. In combination: an insulating base having an, aperture; terminalmeans having an open ended tubular portion extending into said aperture.said terminal means having a transverse aperture'vi' termina detentmeans, disposed within said tubular-portion, for. cooperation with saidtransor receiving anelectrical conductor,

verse aperture and the electrical conductor terminal received therein;resilient means, disposed J within said tubular'portion for biasing saiddetent,`

means into cooperating position; an insulating member engaging saidresilient means 'and extending over said open `end of said tubularportion; and means for holding said insulating memberin position, 'saidholding means including a metallic` channel in which` said insulatingmember and said insulating base are disposed, side portions of saidchannel being bent around said l 25. An electrlcalconductor terminalreceiving means. comprising: detent means, of generally U- shape.'formed of sheet metal: resilient means for, biasing said detent meansinto cooperating position with a conductor terminal; means forsupporting said detent means for movement, inthe general direction ofthe longitudinal axis ot said Ushape, relatively to said supportingmeans; said supporting means including a wall adjacent the outsidelateral surfaceof a `leg' of said U-v..v shaped detent means, 'said wallhaving a part.

bent into the, general plane of said leg; and

means. cooperable with said part of said wall, including a portionstruck out from said sheet.

metal detent means, constructed and arranged so that movement of saiddetent means in said direction towarddsaid vcooperating position islimited 55'f by engagement of said'struck-out portion with said parto!said wall.v

26. An electrical conductor terminal receiv-,

fing means, comprising: detent means, having `a portion of 'generallyU-shape, formed of sheet metal, so constructed and arranged that anoutside part oi.' the bight o! said lJ-shaped portionzis cooperable witha conductor terminal; resilient 1 means for biasing said detent meansinto cooperatlng position with Vthe conductor terminal;

meanstor supporting said detent means for movement relativelyv to saidsupporting means: said supporting means including a wall adjacent theoutside lateral surface o! a leg oi' said U-shaped detent means, saidwall having a part bent Ainto the general plane oi' said leg; and means,co-.f operable with said part of said wall, including a portion struckout from said sheet metall detent means, constructed and arranged sothat movement of said detent. means in the is limited by engagement ofsaid struck-out kpor- 27. An electrical conductor terminal receivingA 10tents having a generally U-g-shaped body formed l5 with said detentsrespectively; said detent means o to aposition to engage andresilientlyhold conof sheet metal; supporting means so constructed andarranged that it movably supports said degtent means and leaves spacesfor insertion of conductor terminals into cooperating relation being sopre-constructed and arranged that the inside of the bight of saidU-shaped body is left free for insertion oit-a conductor terminalvtherein; means for resiliently biasing said detent means ductorterminals;y and said detent means and said biasing means being soconstructed and arranged that any selected one or more of said detentsis adapted to engage and resiliently hold a conductor 5l terminal,inserted into the selected one or`more of said spaces respectively,while any remaining of said spaces are leftfreefor insertion ofadditional conductor terminals.

28.` An electrical conductor -termi/nal receiving 0 means cooperablewith a plurality of conductor terminals, comprising: detent means,including a plurality of detents, constructed and arranged to cooperatewith the conductor terminals; at least one of said detents having agenerally 35 U-shaped body formed of sheet metal; and means for movablysupporting .said detent means; Asaid supporting means having an aperturea margin of which registers approximately with .the surface defining theinside of the blght of said U-shaped sheet metal body thereby to leavesaid aperture and said bight free for the insertion of one of the lconductor terminals through. said aperture and within said insidesurface, another of said de- 'tents being constructed and arranged tocooperatevwith said bight and the conductor terminal inserted therein;and means biasing said detents to cooperating position.4

29. .An electrical conductor terminal receiving means cooperable with aplurality o! plug conductor terminals, comprising: detent means,including a plurality of detents, a first one of which has a generallyU-shaped body formed of sheet metal. said detent means being constructedand arrangedto cooperate with the conductor terminals; a second one ofsaid detents being so constructed and arranged that it is adapted topress a conductor terminal against the inside of the bight of theU-shaped sheet metal body of said iirst detent; supporting means soconstructed and arranged-that it movably supports said detent vmeansandleaves spaces for insertion oi conductor terminals into cooperatingrelation with said detents respectively; means for resiliently biasingsaid detent means to a position to engage and resiliently hold conductorterminals; and said ldetent means and said biasing means being soconstructed and arranged `that any selected one or more of said detentsis adapted to engage and re siliently hold a conductor terminal,inserted into the selected one or more of said spaces respectively,while any remaining of said spaces are left free for insertion ofadditional conductor terminals.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS.r

